Today's other stories in brief
Boy awarded 1.4m over fatal car crash
A boy who sustained brain injuries following a horrific car crash in which four members of a family
died has secured €1.4 million damages in settlement of his High Court action.
Simon Pickford (12), suing through his uncle Robert Pickford, Cheshire, England, brought the action over a crash at Ballydaheen, Castletownroche, Co Cork, in August 2000.
The action was against the boy’s late father, Eric Pickford, who was the driver of the car, and Churchill Insurance. Liability was conceded in the case. It was claimed Simon’s father was negligent in driving too fast and in a dangerous, inattentive and unskilful manner.
Eric Pickford, his wife Gillian (35), Simon’s brother Matthew (6) and stepsister Emma (14) all died in the crash. The family had just arrived in Ireland by ferry.
Simon is now being cared for by his uncle and his wife Pauline. He has problems with his memory and needs help dressing himself.
Youth in court over alleged break-out
A second youth has appeared in court in connection with an incident in which it is alleged efforts were made to a break two girls out of a secure care facility for troubled teens.
The 17-year-old boy, who is in care, was accompanied to the Children's Court yesterday by a youth worker from the non-secure residential unit in which he lives. He was charged with trespassing and criminal damage at the Ballydowd special care unit in west Dublin, on June 28th.
Catherine Ghent told the court her client was admitting the trespass charge but was denying the criminal damage allegations.
Judge Ann Ryan remanded the boy on bail to appear again in October.
1.8m for car crash spinal injury
A woman who suffered a devastating spinal injury in a road accident involving three cars has secured €1.8 million damages from the High Court.
The court heard that the woman, a Chinese national, had not told her parents of her injuries because the stigma of a disability in her home region.
Maggie Yang Yun (28), from Dalian in northern China, took her action against the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland and one of the drivers, Tommy Xian Bai Tao, over the crash in May 2002, near Drogheda.
Both defendants admitted the crash was caused by the negligence of Xian Ban Tao and said she was entitled to recover damages from both.
The case was for assessment of damages only.
Mr Justice John Quirke said Ms Yang Yun was entitled to substantial damages to compensate for the near total destruction of her life and lifestyle.
Brothers appeal life sentences
Two brothers who are appealing their life sentences for murder have argued their convictions are unsafe arising from matters in a widely publicised speech made by a Mr Justice Paul Carney at University College Cork during their trial.
Warren Dumbrell (35) and Jeffrey Dumbrell (29), Emmet Place, Inchicore, Dublin, were found guilty in June 2008 of the murder of Christopher Cawley (36), a father of six. At the Court of Criminal Appeal yesterday, Michael O'Higgins SC, for the brothers, argued that a speech given by Mr Justice Carney to the law faculty at UCC was made while the trial was continuing and carried extensively by the national media, was prejudicial to the Dumbrells and may have influenced the jury's verdict.